Superfluous sealing, buoyancy and immersion controlling system for floating appliances

ABSTRACT

Superfluous sealing, buoyancy and immersion controlling system for floating appliances having a primary, secondary and tertiary buoyancy systems, a buoyancy system of devices and operation and maintenance plants, a set of submersible pumps, a console for controlling and automating the immersion operations and a set of programmable valves. This superfluous system allows any appliance or platform to be able of easily being towed to its final location at sea, ocean, lake . . . regardless of the size, shape or weight thereof, and weather conditions. Similarly, this system enables the immersion at a controlled rate once the platform is in its final location.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a superfluous system for making floating and unsinkable any platform or device that requires it. The system also allows controlling the immersion of the platform or device in question at a controlled rate.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the current state of the art many applications of pneumatic floats have been found.

Industry has also developed specific materials for each application, even reaching the development of textile materials capable of withstanding the impact of machine gun bullets, and which are used in military craft for landing operations.

Therefore, the industry offers a wide range of materials and manufacturing methods that provide a high capacity for designing specific applications.

The present invention discloses a sealing, buoyancy and immersion controlling system that uses pneumatic floats, so that the platform having this system can easily be towed to its final location at sea, ocean, lake . . . regardless of its size, shape or weight and weather conditions. The system also enables the immersion at controlled speed once the platform is in its final location.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention consists of a set of floats for making unsinkable any device such as, for example, a platform. The set of mentioned systems, guarantees even in case of collapsing all the floats of a system, that the platform or appliance set afloat is unsinkable and can achieve the ranking of a new ship in intact condition, which allows towing it to any location. In order to ensure this condition the set of buoyancy systems consists of the following units:

-   -   Primary buoyancy system.     -   Secondary buoyancy system.     -   Tertiary and safety system.     -   Buoyancy system of devices and operation and maintenance plants,         which have to remain afloat during the immersion of the platform         foundation.

Primary and secondary buoyancy systems are formed by a series of pneumatic floats protected by a sheath consisting of a geotextile material and a lightweight and waterproof material such as expanded clay, polystyrene, polyurethane, etc. Each float is in turn composed of a set, variable in number of individual floats each of which has an inflation and vacuum valve, and which are connected to each other by a device that allows simultaneous inflation and vacuum.

Floats are joined together by a steel cable for ease its recovery. The floats are attached to the foundation of the platform either by inserting the beams stiffening thereto into the holes or by holes especially created with steel bridges embedded into the foundation slab when this has the edge stiffness.

The primary buoyancy system, so called because it is the one installed in the first place, is formed by the set of floats centrally and radially located on the platform foundation.

The secondary buoyancy system, so called because it is the one installed in the second place, is formed by the set of floats located on the foundation perimeter and attached to a board made of two sheets of steel or other resistant material between which a light panel, of low density and shear resistant is provided, configuring the assembly a sandwich of steel or resistant material, light core and steel or resistant material, a high strength geotextile built with two permeable geotextile blankets making up from outside to inside a protective material made of expanded clay or expanded polystyrene or polyurethane pellets, then a waterproof layer, are fixed at the bottom of this sandwich panel. This secondary system retains the rockfill located in the closed space between the sandwich panel and the geotextile attached thereto. The role of the rockfill is, once released, to protect the foundation from erosion when the foundation is laid on the ocean bed. At the top of the high strength geotextile the steel cables become steady for recovering the floats and others which, passing through the sandwich panel, are attached to hoists located on the cover, which, in the first place and for manufacturing, launching and immersing, firmly retain the geotextile which is part of the secondary system and forms a closed bag inside of which the rockfill is housed.

The tertiary buoyancy and security system consists of a structure shaped as a “sandwich”. The manufacturing method of this system is as follows:

A geotextile sheet is extended, on which radial wheels made of steel are glued. The space between the wheels is filled with expanded clays until leveling the height of the wheels. A sheet of impermeable material is glued thereon, and on which an inner geotextile. When the platform or floating appliance is floated, because the geotextile is permeable, clays become wet and get expanded thus creating a completely waterproof layer and that also protects the waterproof layer from a possible punctured, and if it occurs, these would get blocked instantly. The tertiary system is embedded into the foundation slab and continuously surrounds the entire platform, reaching the cover or operation and maintenance plant wherein the tertiary system is attached.

The tertiary system consists of a geotextile material structure shaped as a “sandwich”, which has some radial wheels inserted. The wheels allow fixing it to the cover, for this purpose these have a drill-hole at its upper end. The geotextile material has reinforced eyelets with metallic rings. A rounded steel rod is passed through the drill-holes in the wheels and through the eyelets, folding them in order to adjust its size to that of the cover side. The steel bars are attached to hoists with cable, which allows tightening them on the cover. During immersion, the hoists are releasing the cable at the same speed as that of immersion, after reaching the bottom the fixation is released from the bars in order to fall on the bottom.

Once the foundation of the appliance in question rests on the seabed, the tertiary system consisting of a structure shaped as a “sandwich” unfolds and extends around the foundation, likewise the cables holding the geotextile are released from the secondary system, the rockfill falls by its own weight and sandwich panels with positive buoyancy move upward towards the surface scattering the rockfill on the geotextile of the tertiary system, which should have been previously unfolded on the seabed. By pulling, with the hoists located on the cover, the cables attached to the sandwich panels, the rockfill scattering is improved, and recovering primary and secondary systems is facilitated and guaranteed.

The buoyancy system of devices and operation and maintenance plants consists of other floats with the same characteristics as those of primary and secondary systems, and is arranged both in a perimeter and radial manner between the holes of the cover beams. Its mission is to keep afloat the devices and operation and maintenance plants. Its movement, well above of that of its weight, further guarantees the assembly buoyancy.

The installation method, thereof and for other types of floats, is the following: partially deflated floats are placed in the holes and finish inflating, which increases their volume and makes them compressed and closed on their support. The superfluous sealing, buoyancy and immersion controlling system has also additional, auxiliaries and basic units enabling the immersion to be controlled once the platform is in its final location. These units are the following:

-   -   Plugs for closing the holes in the cover for flooding watertight         compartments.     -   A set of submersible pumps located at the perimeter of the         platform. The pumps, which allow the flooding of watertight         compartments created in the platform or floating appliance         concerned, are placed on hinged seats provided with rotating         actuators capable of immersing and lifting the pumps.     -   A console for controlling and automating the immersion         operations.     -   A set of valves programmable in two positions off/on. In off         these are closed for transporting the platform, and in on these         are opened when the air pressure inside the floats reaches that         predetermined.

Once placed in its final location, the foundation of the platform must be immersed in a controlled manner so that there is no great impact against the seabed. For this purpose, water is introduced into the watertight compartments using the pumps, by previously removing the plugs, so that this water presses the floats of the primary and secondary systems and these will deflate, always in a controlled manner, as the air outflow rate is controlled by the valves of the floats. Thus reducing the volume of displacement and the immersion rate is controlled.

The secondary and primary systems are recovered once the immersion is performed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

In order to complete the description being made and for helping to a better understanding of the features of the invention a set of drawings is accompanied, wherein in an illustrative and not limitative manner, the following has been represented:

FIG. 1: Elevational view of a platform with all buoyancy systems installed.

FIG. 2: Plan View of the set of floats of devices and operation and maintenance plants wherein the cover thereof has been removed.

FIG. 3: Perspective view of all floats recoverable from all buoyancy systems.

FIG. 4: Plan view of a tertiary unfolded system, the primary system and secondary system.

FIG. 5: Detail of the floats making up the systems.

FIG. 6: Perspective views of a float of the secondary system attached to a high strength geotextile and sandwich panel.

FIG. 7: Detail of the seats and pumps for flooding the watertight compartments, and controlling the immersion of the assembly.

A list of references used in the figures is provided bellow:

-   1—Floats of the primary system -   2—Floats of the secondary system -   3—Geotextile material of the secondary system -   4—Sandwich panel of the secondary system -   5—Floats of devices and operation and maintenance plants -   6—Individual Floats -   7—Valve -   8—Submersible pumps -   9—Seats -   10—Wheels -   11—Geotextile Material of the tertiary system -   12—Watertight compartments

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In order to achieve a better understanding of the invention, the superfluous sealing, buoyancy and immersion controlling system of an offshore platform is going to be described below with the help of the figures.

The superfluous sealing, buoyancy and immersion controlling system of an offshore platform includes the following units:

-   -   A primary buoyancy system formed by two-lobe floats (1) between         which there is a recess to be inserted between the central and         radial stiffening beams of the foundation slab of the platform.     -   A secondary buoyancy system formed by other single-lobe floats         (2) attached to sandwich panels (4) peripherally inserted into         the foundation slab.

These floats are attached to a high strength geotextile material (3) on which the rockfill is placed, and which is folded over it closing at the beam.

-   -   A tertiary system formed by a geotextile material (11) with a         sandwich structure and which has wheels (10), a layer of         expanded clay and a layer of impermeable material inserted. The         tertiary system is embedded under the foundation slab and         continuously surrounds the entire platform, reaching the cover         or operation and maintenance plant wherein it is fixed. The         wheels (10) allow fixing it to the cover, for this purpose these         have a drill-hole at their upper end. The geotextile sheets (11)         have eyelets reinforced with metallic rings. A rounded steel rod         is passed through the drill-holes of the wheels and through the         eyelets, folding them in order to adjust their size to that of         the cover side. The steel bars are attached to hoists with         cable, which allows tightening them on the cover. During         immersion, the hoists are releasing the cable at the same speed         as that of immersion, once reaching the bottom the fixation is         released from the bars in order to fall on the bottom.     -   Buoyancy system of devices and operation and maintenance plants         consisting of other floats (5) arranged in a perimeter and         radial manner between the beam holes of the platform cover. This         system is the one keeping afloat an unsinkable at all times the         devices and operation and maintenance plants, from the moment         the towed towards its final location and during the immersion of         the platform foundation.

The set of floats of the primary and secondary system, compressed together or against the beams of the foundation slab of the platform, results in a series of watertight compartments (12).

The floats of the primary system, secondary and buoyancy system of the devices and operation and maintenance plant are covered with geotextile sheath and polystyrene pellets. Each float in turn consists of a set, variable in number, of individual floats (6) each of which has its inflation and vacuum valve (7), and which are connected together by a device that allows simultaneous inflation and vacuum.

The superfluous system object of the invention also presents submersible pumps (8) placed on seats (9) for moving the pumps, immersing or lifting them, as needed. These pumps are responsible for filling with water the watertight compartments created by the set of floats of the primary and secondary systems in order to produce the immersion of the platform foundation. As the pumps fill the compartments with water, the water presses the floats and these will deflate, reducing the displacement volume and, therefore, causing the immersion of the platform foundation. This immersion process is performed at a controlled rate through a console for controlling and automating the immersion operations as well as the presence of programmable valves in the floats which allow controlling of air outflow rate.

When the foundation of the platform rests on the seabed, the geotextile of the tertiary system (11) is released and falls extending along the entire perimeter of the platform, the rockfill contained between the floats (2) and the geotextile material of the secondary buoyancy system (3) are released, so that it is scattered around the foundation and on the extended geotextile of the tertiary system (11), protecting the foundation from erosion.

The superfluous system object of the present invention makes unsinkable any platform, because it makes it to be able of being ranking as a new ship in intact condition, allowing it to be towed to any location by creating watertight compartments, sealed to prevent the water inlet. 

1. Superfluous sealing, buoyancy and immersion controlling system for floating appliances, which allows towing it to the final location, regardless of size, shape, weight thereof and weather conditions, and which allows its immersion at a controlled rate characterized in that it comprises the following units: Primary sealing system consisting of a set of floats (1) centrally and radially located on the foundation of the floating appliance. Secondary sealing system consisting of a set of floats (2) located on the perimeter of the foundation of floating appliance and attached to a board made of two steel sheets, between said sheets there is a panel with a sandwich-type structure (4) to which a high-strength geotextile (3) is attached. Tertiary sealing and security system consisting of a geotextile material (11) with a sandwich-type structure. Buoyancy system of devices and operation and maintenance plants consisting of floats (5) arranged in both a perimeter and radial manner between the beam holes of the floating cover. Plugs for closing the holes of the cover for flooding the watertight compartments. A set of submersible pumps (8). A console for controlling and automating the immersion operations. A set of programmable valves (7).
 2. Superfluous sealing, buoyancy and immersion controlling system for floating appliances, according to claim 1, characterized in that the floats of the primary, secondary system, and those of the buoyancy system of the devices and operation and maintenance plants are in turn composed of a set of individual floats (6) each of which has its inflation and vacuum valve (7), and which are connected together by a device that allows simultaneous inflation and vacuum.
 3. Superfluous sealing, buoyancy and immersion controlling system for floating appliances, according to claim 1, characterized in that the floats of each of the systems are connected together by a steel cable for ease its recovery.
 4. Superfluous sealing, buoyancy and immersion controlling system for floating appliances, according to claim 1, characterized in that the floats of the primary, secondary system, and those of the buoyancy system of the devices and operation and maintenance plants are protected by a sheath consisting of a geotextile material and a lightweight and waterproof material.
 5. Superfluous sealing, buoyancy and immersion controlling system for floating appliances, according to claim 4, characterized in that lightweight and waterproof material surrounding the floats is expansive clay, expanded polystyrene or polyurethane.
 6. Superfluous sealing, buoyancy and immersion controlling system for floating appliances, according to claim 1, characterized in that the floats of the primary, secondary system are fixed to the foundation of the floating appliance either by inserting beams stiffening it into the holes or by holes especially created with steel bridges embedded into the foundation slab, when this has the edge stiffness.
 7. Superfluous sealing, buoyancy and immersion controlling system for floating appliances, according to claim 1 characterized in that the high strength geotextile (3) of the secondary system is built with two permeable geotextile blankets making up from outside to inside a protective material consisting of expanded clay or expanded polystyrene or polyurethane pellets and a waterproof sheet.
 8. Superfluous sealing, buoyancy and immersion controlling system for floating appliances according to claim 1 characterized in that the secondary system retains in the closed space between the sandwich panel (4) and the high strength geotextile (3) coupled therewith, the rockfill, which, once released, protects the foundation of the floating appliance from erosion when foundation is laid on the seabed.
 9. Superfluous sealing, buoyancy and immersion controlling system for floating appliances according to claim 1 characterized in that the geotextile with sandwich-type structure of the tertiary system (11) is formed by a geotextile sheet on which some steel radial wheels (10), an expansive clay layer, an impermeable material layer and a inner geotextile sheet have been glued.
 10. Superfluous sealing, buoyancy and immersion controlling system for floating appliances according to claim 1 characterized in that the tertiary system is embedded under the foundation slab and continuously around the entire floating appliance, reaching the cover or operation and maintenance plant wherein the tertiary system is fixed.
 11. Superfluous sealing, buoyancy and immersion controlling system for floating appliances according to claim 1 characterized in that pumps (8) are placed on hinged seats (9) provided with rotating actuators that allow immersing and lifting the pumps.
 12. Method for controllably immersing the foundation of a floating appliance making use of the superfluous sealing, buoyancy and immersion controlling system described in preceding claims, characterized in that water is introduced into the watertight compartments (12) by using the pumps (8), previously removing the plugs, so that this water presses the floats of the primary and secondary systems and these deflates, always in a controlled manner through a console for controlling and automating the immersion operations, as well as the presence of programmable valves (7) in the floats which allows controlling air outflow rate and, once that foundation rests on the seabed, the geotextile of the tertiary system (11) is released and falls extending around the entire perimeter of said foundation, likewise, the rockfill contained between the floats (2) and the geotextile material (3) of the secondary buoyancy system are released, so that it is scattered around the foundation and on the extended geotextile of the tertiary system (3), protecting the foundation from erosion.
 13. Method for controllably immersing the foundation of a floating appliance according to claim 12, characterized in that the floats of the secondary and primary systems are recovered in surface once the immersion is performed. 